"Free rules not so free anymore" Topic

I still remember going to the Mantic sit and downloading their free rules.

Then they changed it and you had to buy them (for $0 USD) so had to go through their system.

Now they have some special part of the site dedicated to things like free rules.

You guessed it, you have to sign up and log in to get these "free" rules.

Are other free rules going the same way?

There is nothing stopping them putting bthem up for actual free, but them they can't spam you.

You could sign up, log in, grab what you can, then opt out, I assume. But that's a lot of rigmarole for something that used to be one click.

You cold simply ask a friend who has them to give you a copy, but that may be against the companies terms??

I know a lot of people just don't care, that's probably why they are getting away with it so easily, but free rules should cost you nothing, not even your data.

I'm not sure how they can call them free when a transaction needs to occur?

I went to comic con and wanted to play magic to get a free starter deck, but you had to scan something with a doflicky or something. Not so free there either, and discriminating against those without fancy tech, so I couldn't even get a "free" deck. How such a big company could not predict some potential customers may not have fladhy gadgets is beyond me. Perhaps it is just your data they want? Or they assume if you don't have the latest phone you can't afford their products?

To me they are all just losing customers.

I guess all the data they do get allows them to spam so many ads that maybe it makes up for those potential customers they regect?

I find it weird, especially for Mantic that was built on free rules, to not offer them any more.

Btw, I did sign up with Mantic previously for "free" rules, so I can certainly say they do spam you with e-mails.

They are free because they don't charge for them, that's kind of the definition.

How dare they try to get some useful marketing information as a result, the horror!!!

David
That is not the definition of free the definition is i give you something and I get nothing in return which include's useful marketing information that's called the barter system eg I give you something and you give me something that's useful to me that's not cash.

You can still get free rules just the other day I got a set of co-op cyberpunk skirmish rules called HARDWIRED they look fun but not really what I was looking for.

I bought a copy of 02 hundred hours which had some hard plastic miniature's and you had to download the Assembly instruction's, so went to the website and as well as assembly instructions were some other stuff which was useful new stats a flow chart and the such.
yup I had to go through a check out type thing
giveing them information including my home addresses as if I was buying a physical object, i sent off a snoty e-mail because i thought the Assembly instructions should be in the box.
And got this replie

"I use that system for PDFs because if I make any corrections or changes, it automatically sends out a link to the new version.

There's no need to input your real address if you don't want to (if it was possible I would change it so that step is skipped completely).

In addition I'm happy to send PDFs direct to anyone who asks – I have attached all those that are currently available."

I was cool with that and the info is useful but I think not putting the Assembly instruction's in the box wasn't cool as its not obvious which arm went with the other.

Thanks for defining things nicely.

Personal info even just an email address has value. That's why companies get hacked and the info sold to scammers.

Perhaps a name change would suffice.

Perhaps Promotional rules, or complimentary rules, or $0 USD rules. Basically something that doesn't suggest they come free.

Actually Promo rules sounds best, as you letting them send you advertising, in Mantics case, as payment.

Use a burner address. I use "Hide My Email" and it is slick! Emails get forwarded to the real address for as long as you want.

Guess what? Mantic aren't losing out, you are.

🤣🤣🤣

Unsubscribe from the spams as soon as you get the first one. You're complaining about a solved problem. Mantic and other publishers are reputable senders and will honor those unsubscribe requests.

That would work. I thought of just blocking the email address. I think you can do that.

I still use Free Wargames Rules on the web. They do not ask for anything.

Has anything ever happened in gaming that didn't annoy you?

Asking for a friend…..

They wrote the rules. They sell the miniatures for the rules. They have the right to provide access to the rules in anyway they see fit or not at all. That they've decided they will give away PDF files of the rules for nothing more than an agreement to temporarily receive e-mails from them is hardly condemnable. Try that with GW or Warlord and see what you get.

I think Mantic Games is being extremely generous in their offer, and engaging in smart business too. Sell the minis, not the games… but do create a path to sell the minis!

Nothing is free. Considering the amount of my personal info that has been sold/given away/used before consent was a thing I'm pretty numb to it. You can get the rules and then unsubscribe/opt out. Heck, I've had Amazon Prime many times for the free shipping then cancel before the first month is up. Each person has their limits though so this may be something that's now common and irritating. Assembly instructions should be included or a free "no sign up" thing. Some pdf building companies will send an email with a link to the buildings you've bought, that seems fair enough.

"Has anything ever happened in gaming that didn't annoy you?

Asking for a friend"

🤣

The rules certainly aren't free. I guess that was my point.

The only point that actually matters is that no-one should find the likes of you opposite a games table from them. There isn't a problem here; there's an erection and nothing more.

I try not to respond to personal attacks.

Childish antics are best left in the school yard.

I'm sure any editor will know better than myself if any personal attack or non TMP behaviour has occurred.

To the point, all information has a value. Nothing is free if you have to give your information.